Gate-latch.



B. H. HANNEMANN.

GATE LATCH. APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1909.

922,889. Patentd May 25, 1909.

since/"ton THE mmms PETERS c0. wAsmNarou, a. c.

B.H.HANNEMANN.

GATE LATCH. APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1908.

May 25, 1909. SHEETS-SHEET 2 BENJAHINE ll. l-IANNEMANN, Ol. LINCOLN CENTER, KANSAS.

GATE-LhTCI-I.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented I /lay 25, I909.

Application filed. May 9, 1908. Serial No. 431,981.

TocZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, BENJAMINE H. BANNE- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln Center, in the State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches; and 1 do hereby declare the following to a full, clear, and exact description. of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to a gate latch and more particularly to the class of automatic gate latches.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a gate latch which will automatically lock a gate upon the closing thereof and when the locking device is manually actuated the gate will be released and freed so as to be brought to an open position.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter set forth in detail. and as illus trated in the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that changes, variations and. modifications will be made such as come properly within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

in the drawings :Figure 1 is a side view of a gate and its posts with the invention applied to the same. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the latch post with the latch plate connected thercto, and the front end. bar of the gate in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front view of the latch plate.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the drawings, the numeral 5 designates generally the gate which is of the usual. construction and 6 the front or catch post and 7 the rear or hinge post to which latter the gate is hingedly connected for swinging movement. This gate 5 includes top and bottom bars 8 and end bars 9 connected together to form a frame and extending diagonally from one corner of the frame to an opposite corner thereof is a central brace bar 10 and upon the frame are vertically disposed spaced panels or pickets 11 which are secured thereto and to the brace bar in any suitable manner.

In the front end bar 9 of the gate 5 is an opening 12 for receiving a sliding latch pin 13 i 1 i i i i j 1 i i i l which latter also slidesthro ugh openings. 14 formed in plates 15 secured by fasteners 16 to opposite sidesof the end bar 9 and: which openings 14 form bearings for the latch pin and register with the opening 12 in the front end bar of the gate. At a point removed from the engaging end. of the latch pin 13 and surrounding the same is a collar 17 forming a hearing for one end of a compressiblecoiled spring 18 surrounding said latch pin and arranged within the opening 12 between the plates 15 and has its opposite end bearing against the adjacent plate 15 mounted upon the inside face of the end bar 9 of the gate. On the inner end of thelatch pin 13 is an eye 19 having connection with a corresponding eye 20 formed. at one extremity of a connecting rod 21, the opposite end of which is pivoted as at 22 to a bell crank lever 23 including a short arm 24rand a long arm 25 and which lever 23 is fulcrumed upon a pivot or pin 26 projecting from the brace bar 10 at one side thereof.

Secured to the side of the top bar 8 near the forward extremity of the gate 5 is a staple 27 through which slides a manually operable rod or lever 28 the lower end of which is connected by a pivot 29 to the extreme end. of the long arm 25 of the bell crank lever and its opposite end terminates in a loop forming Y a handle 30 to be gripped by the operator for releasing the latch pin.

On the front post 6 is mounted a substantially U-shaped latch plate 31 including flat parallel extensions 32 which are secured at opposite sides of the said post by fasteners and a cross connecting piece 34 having a central opening 35 to receive the latch pin and on opposite sides of this opening are inwardly converging beveled. surfaces 36 over which slides the engaging end of the latch pin 13 so as to permit free engagement thereof with the opening 35 in the latch plate.

To limit the upward movement of the long arm 25 of the bell crank lever there is provided a stop pin 37 projecting from one of the pickets 11 of the gate.

Presuming that the gate 5 is in a closed position with the latch pin 13 engaging the latch plate 31 and it is desired to open the gate the operator grips the handle 30 and by forcing the rod 28 downward it will cause the lowering of the long arm 25 thereby rocking the bell crank lever 23 on its pivot thus pulling on the connecting rod 21 and through the medium of which the latch pin 13 will be brought to a position to compress the coiled spring 18 and Which latch pin Will be released from engagement With the latch plate 31 so as to permit the gate to be swung to an open position. NOW, upon the closing of the gate 5 the latch pin 13 Will contact With one of the beveled faces 36 of the latch plate 31 and said pin will be depressed so as to automatically engage in the opening 35 of said latch plate thereby automatically locking the gate in a closed position.

What is claimed is In a gate latch, the combination with a gate and its catch post, of a substantially U-shaped latch plate straddling said post and containing a central opening, said latch plate having beveled surfaces at opposite sides of said opening, a latch pin adapted to engage the opening in the latch plate and guided thereto by the beveled surfaces, guide bearlever having a long and short arm and pivotrod in engagement with the latch pin and the short arm of the bell crank lever, and amanuautomatically disengage the latch pin from the latch plate upon actuating said rod.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

BENJAMINE H. HANNEMANN.

WVitnesses:

ED. W. HANNEMANN, ALBERT BUERMON.

gate between the bearing plates, a bell crank 25 ally mounted upon the gate, a connecting ally operable rod connected with the long 30 arm of said bell crank lever and adapted to 

